Nanoparticle Applications in Nematode Management

Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic worms that inflict substantial yield losses on a wide range of crops worldwide. Conventional chemical nematicides often pose environmental and human-health risks, driving the search for more sustainable solutions. Nanoparticles—engineered materials with at least one dimension below 100 nm—offer unique physicochemical properties, including high surface-area-to-volume ratios, tunable reactivity and the ability to generate reactive oxygen species under specific conditions. A variety of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles, such as silver, zinc oxide, copper oxide and titanium dioxide, have been investigated for their nematicidal efficacy. Many studies have adopted green synthesis approaches, utilising plant or algal extracts to produce biocompatible nanoparticles with reduced environmental impact. These nanomaterials can act directly on nematode juveniles and eggs, interfere with root-gall formation, photogenerate oxidative stress or prime plant defence pathways. Emerging pot and field trials demonstrate significant gall reduction, improved plant growth and minimal non-target toxicity, highlighting the global potential of nanoparticle-based strategies for sustainable nematode management.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have explored macroalgal extracts as both reducing agents and carriers for silver nanoparticles targeting root-knot nematodes. One investigation employed extracts from two marine algae species to fabricate anisotropic silver particles under 40 nm, achieving complete mortality of Meloidogyne incognita juveniles and eggs and significant suppression of gall and egg-mass formation on tomato roots. The treatments also enhanced plant growth parameters, indicating a dual nematicidal and biostimulant effect. In a separate work, freshwater green macroalga extract was used to generate green silver nanoparticles active against Meloidogyne javanica on tomato. These nanoparticles not only reduced gall numbers and egg masses but also upregulated key defence enzymes in the host plant, demonstrating that nanoparticle treatment can elicit systemic resistance in addition to direct nematode toxicity.

Nanoparticle Applications in Nematode Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanoparticle applications in nematode management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nanoparticle: A particle with dimensions between 1 and 100 nm, exhibiting size-dependent properties.

Green synthesis: The use of biological resources (plants, algae or microbes) to reduce and stabilise nanoparticle formation without toxic reagents.

Juvenile (J2): The infective second larval stage of root-knot nematodes responsible for root invasion.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules (e.g. hydroxyl radicals) generated by photocatalysis or redox reactions, inducing oxidative damage in nematodes.

Root-gall index: A quantitative measure of gall severity on plant roots, indicating nematode infection level.

References

1. Nematicidal activity of seaweed-synthesized silver nanoparticles and extracts against Meloidogyne incognita on tomato plants. Scientific Reports (2022).
2. Utilization of Cladophora glomerata extract nanoparticles as eco-nematicide and enhancing the defense responses of tomato plants infected by Meloidogyne javanica. Scientific Reports (2020).
3. In vitro and in vivo studies of Vitex negundo-derived silver oxide nanoparticles against Meloidogyne incognita (Root-knot nematode) on tomato plants. Plant Nano Biology (2024).
4. Green fabrication of titanium dioxide nanoparticles via Syzygium cumini leaves extract: characterizations, photocatalytic activity and nematicidal evaluation. Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews (2024).
5. Grass‐Shaped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by the Sol‐Gel Process and Their Antagonistic Properties towards the Biotrophic Parasite, Meloidogyne incognita. Bioinorganic Chemistry and Applications (2023).